Articulated fabric for handbags



Jan. 22, 1946. v. BERKOWITZ 2,393,281

' ,fuTIcJULATFDA FABRIC Fon HANDBAGS Filed D90. 29, 1944 Patented Jan. 22, 1946 "zaozisafL Amromrsn ramcron Hermosos 'Yictor .gliexkowitm 'Lawreme' N. l51E., :assigner -Qoidsmiih frothers Mannheim @when v f New York, N. Ya a corporation@ :New im; Applicationfecember 29, 0157052.36 15 claims, -lc1.,4i'-.1`of)` v imisinventionrelates -tokarticles made of `laced decorative elements.

Vv'one object or the invention Ais to Vprovide a nexible fabric -or'handbag comprising an iinproved-neid ,ofi-decorative Aelements in which 'the' lacing' extends fin only one 'direotiqpn` with the decorative elements fbeing thereby nexibly winterconnected 4llalserallyif the vlacing lto jprevent separation of the decorative lelements in direction which they 1are-not laced.`

the ...107

@Another objectis to-'provarloy neat, thin vedge elements 'having lacing ears lforming'"nosi,'tioninfgl abutments'to prevent-the elements from partiallyy sliding overV-ortelescoping eachother.

Anotherobject of the invention to -jnrnish such animprovement whereby alt-the elements are mention-soma@ oniy-asingie-moid or oie -is necessary, and only 4one kind yoi element need'be handled in contour. Y

manufactui'ing articles of *uniform f'- f jy-2o Another'lobjectfor-the virrs'fention isgthe prof vision -oivimprovements of Ithenature referred to whereby relatively `few lacing members a-'re're-f quired andeach decorative element `secured fbyj at'lleasttwo-lacing members, each lacing niember being common to'twofoolumnsof the n tiveelernents. y y

impfvements of the nature set foftnewmch permits Ava. substantial `flexibility iin siiiferer'itl direc Y lacing but rather ily -a Divotalreiationbetyveen' thofdecorative elements and the iacingjfsoj-that the latter offers Ano resistance and vi'sjnot ystibeot todistortion. f

Another object of l"the I invention Lisi-to *proride f an improved Vdecorative plastic element havingy one or more *of the following leatures:

hinging by vvtape oril'acereceiving- 'earsgfwhose center lines lie 'in theplane of fthe fbase ofthev element; nexibility pff "Va "wailfby" Ltapering the element 'at all sidesr'down itov 'thybase -withF`the ears xprotruding partially `above and below Jthat base, thus i utilizing a Aminimum vvof plastic fzn'aterial 4and --obtaining a novel ldecorative appear ance; instant intertting of elements'iby-'pla'eins the rears @diagonally opposite -..corne rs for; elementi; .andfcompiate protectioaof the fiacingmm rubbing and wear at the edges, as well as at the Sides'y Off .a 'mdb' 'Other Qbljects and advantages .of the invention Y fwn; become apparent as the Vspecification pro'eedsr Y Llllfi'thjtheaforesaid objects jin view, the ginven.-

tioncomprisesfthe novel features, combinations and; arrangements of parts hereinafter .described in -theirpreferrd embodiments, pointed lout in the sulrjoi'ned claims, and; illustrated in the an-Y nexed drawing, 'wherein 'likeparts are designated by vvthe .same Areference-'charia;eters ytlnrotighout the lseveral views.

thx-drawing: y i

Figure i -is a view in :front elevation 'of a handbag embodying the invention,with partsof cargxemoved'toshowthe lacing. v Y n c *"Vig Ais *au iai-view o! lan end of 'the lhandbag. l Y n l VFig.- 3 is f a diagrammaticfhorizontaiview of a portion-of Aan 'expandedy handbag. n w

""Ffg. j i'is -a inl-l ls izg: rontview of 'a decorative element 'embodying the invention. Fig. 511s a top edgeview thereof.

Fie, is a sideds view bi the same.

Fig. il fis aside edge of 'a modication f with lacing shown in flot-dash "lines The advantages t-the `invention as V.here voutlined are test "realized when Pall 'of its features and instrumentalities yare 4combi-ned, "but, Ausefnl embodiments ina-y pe produced V'involving less iha'nV lthe whole;

fn will aeobvioas to those 'skiuedin the an, to which vthe vinvention appertains, that the `same may befincorporated infseverafl diterent 4constructions. LThe accompanying drawing, therefore,-

k theiatter. sAll the elements l'Illgare identical.

whereby alsngleomold or relie-sumces, and -the assemblingof the elements 5H "is expedited.

element H comprises a main decora-tive body ror plate-Rilke portion t2 of generally -reotangularfform. "Thesame preferablyfincludes a raised or convex section 12a extending rl'iorizgnitally ironilodge to edgezofthe rectangular portion, and upper and llower fbeveledforslopin'g Ysections Mb which #moet with or intersect Jthe convex sectheir fouter ends vat Vthe frontof' the element as shown f at 22. 'Ihebevels cooperate with the recesses 2 I to reduce` the abutting sufaces'between registering ears` so :that ithe --elements canfreeely pivotrelati-v'ely *to veach other -along-'the lines 'i6 which lie in a plane central to the ears. f" l r l; Ahandbag lhavinga field-cf decorativeelements in rows and'colmns, `each element having a' decorative body portion Land f ears" laterally -projecting therefrom, thev ears] of-A adjacent Yelements being beset# relatively to each other :ana-aimed with Ieach other,A and lacing -strung through j-the alined ears to intercorniectthe decorativelelementsi'nrows and columns.

2. A handbag having a field of decorative elements in rows and columns, each element having a decorative main body section and ears laterally projecting therefrom, the ears lying at the rear portions of the body sections and the latter projecting forward of the ears, and lacing interconnecting the ears in rows and columns. A

3. A handbag having a field of decorative elements arranged in rowsV and columns and being in contact with each other, each decorative element having a decorative body section and ears disposed solely at two opposite edges thereof, the remaining edges being free, the ears of one decorative element being offset relatively to the ears of adjoining elements and interttedin alinement therewith so that the ears lie wholly in said rows1 the ears lying in the planeof' the rear portion of decorative body section and the latter projecting forwardly of the ears, the earf,` in different rows being in alinement with each other, and lacing strung through the alined ears to interconnect the elements in each row and to interconnect the elements in columns, said lacing extending along said columns.

4. A fabric including a series of decorative elements each having two ears, said ears being 1ocated at opposite ends of the elements, the length of an ear being not more than half the width of its element, the elements lying in rows with the ears of one element contacting adjacent edges of an vadjoining element, said rows being free of lateral projections,V with the side edges of each element continuously contacting side edges of Y adjoining elements, and flexible lacing extending only transversely of the rows through theA ears whereby theelements of each row are articulated together, the lacing forming flexible connections between the rows at the ears.

5. A fabric including a series of decorative elements each having a generally rectangular platelike portion and ears connected thereto at opposed, vertical edges of the said plate-like portion, the remaining, horizontal edges being free of the ears, the length of each ear being not more than one-half of the vertical width of its element so that at least one-half of each of said vertical edges is free of its ears, the elements being interfitted in rows and columns with the ears in register with each other along the columns and the free horizontal edges of the elements lying along the rows with those of onerow movably contacting those of an adjacent row, and the ear of one element contacting Va free vertical edge of an adjacent element, and flexible lacing strung through the ears and being the sole means for interconnecting the elements in said rows and columns.

6. A flexible fabric including a series of decorative elements arranged in contact with each other in rows and columns, each element having a plate portion providing the edges for said contact, the

edges `lying in a "plane, and ears on :the elements atl' opposite fdlges lthere'of, lformin'gi rows of ears, thfe'ars'! o f y'a'.'djirining elements ifnf each row fbein-g in v#registerwith Seach other' and .the ears .in one row 'b'eing ein register 'with' 'the vears in `adjoining rows, the center linesI of the ears lyingiinsaid llan'e'soA that portions-*of the earsilie lbelow their plateportionsgsand flexible Imembersextending in'saidlrowsand columns'.A Y 7. A flexible fabric comprising aseries of decorative --elements each vlhaving- -a ygenerally yrecthrough. the ears lforinterconnectingthe elements f tangulard plate-like portion; ears; at vopposite ends of plate-like portion-.not more 'tha'none -halfl 4the width ofy the flatter', saidearstermin-ating at diagonally opposite corners of the plate-like portion, the elements being interiitted in rows with the ears of adjacent elements in register with each other, and the rows lying in uniform edge to edge contact with adjacent rows with the ears of the different rows in register with each other, and ilexiblemembers extending through the ears to interconnect the elements in rows and columns.

8. A handbag having a flexible side wall comprising a field of decorative elements in rows and columns and in contact .with each other along said rows and columns, said elements having ears in each row offset so that the ears of adjacent elements register with each other, the ears of the different rows being in register with each other, each 'element having certain edges on all four sides thereof in contact with adjacent elements,

said edges lying in a plane at the base of eachr y at said opposite edges, in each fleld and at the junction of the side walls at an edge of the handbag, the ears inra row registering with ears in adjacent rows in each field and at the apex Aof the junction of the side walls, flexible members extending transversely of the rows through sa1dears and constituting the sole means interconnecting said elements in rows and columns, said flexible members permitting flexure of the side walls transversely of said members and the elements being adapted to pivot relatively to each other about said members and the side walls being pivotally related to each other about the lacing member in the ears at said apex.

10. A flexible wall comprising `a field of elements, each element having a generally rectangular decorative portion, the decorative portions lying in edge to edge contact with each other in columns, the decorative portions also lying in spaced relation to each other in rows, a pair of registering tubes between each pair of decorative portions in said rows, one tube being integral Y with one decorative portion and the other tube being Aintegral with the other decorative portion,

70 the length of said pair of tubes being approximately equal to the width of a row, the tubes of each row being in register with the tubes of adjacent rows,` whereby the tubes form substantially continuous tubes approximately equal to the length of said columns, land flexible lacing in said substantially continuous tubes interconnectcut-outs at their outer. ends at the rear ofthe element to accommodate end portions 0f the lac- Y 13. A flexible wall according to claim 10 wherein the center lines of `the tubes lie in theV plane of lthe :rear surfaces `of thedecorative portions.

.14. A ezible Wall accordingv to claim 10 wherein the center lines of the tubes vlie in the plane of the rearV portionsV of the elements, the tubes having cut-outs at -theirvouter ends at the rear of the decorative elements,` said tubesvhaving bevels at their outer ends-at thepfront of the decorative elements. s

15. A device including a field of thin edge decorative plate elements lying edge to edge and having registering ears Whose center lines lie parallel to the plane of the plate elements, exible lacngthrough therears, the latter being so positioned at edges of the elements as to constitute abutments to prevent the elements from partially telescoping each other. f p

,VICTOR BERKOWITZ. 

